Although many of us live in an area we are not indigenous to, it does not mean we should not be aware of the history of the area we live in. A clear understanding of what was there and how it became what it is now, is the best way for us to be able to make smart development decisions for the future. Was the area a forest, prairie, desert or swamp? Who were its past inhabitants: Indians, bears or wolves?

It is easy to get caught up in a numbers game like costs per-capita when talking about suburbia also known as sprawl or low-density development. One example is that many homebuyers like to point out that the suburbs offer “more house for your money” when compared to many neighborhoods in or on the skirts of a city. This may be true, but like so many things today there are many hidden costs to our lifestyles. Even more importantly there are other factors that play an even greater role in our neighborhood decisions.

Think of those old quaint downtowns with the welcoming storefronts, wide sidewalks and everything within a short walking distance. Then think about why we rarely, if ever, see new development such as these; the reason in part is zoning. Zoning, changes in lifestyle and a growing middle class spurred changes to the way new cities and suburbs developed.